HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_02_06 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
Meeting Notes—February 6, 2024
Meeting notes accepted from December 2023 meeting(January 2024 meeting was cancelled due to
inclement weather.)
Attending: Mike Smeets,Allen Reiter, Harriet Barrish,Andrea Reiter, Frank Owens, Karin Weisburgh,
Nicholas Zuba, MHS teacher Joe Liberti, OCRA group on food scraps,Arlene Novich, Sue Odierna, Robin
Nichinsky, Mark Kramer
Update on Complete Streets(Mike Smeets)
Mike reminded us about the upcoming infrastructure changes on the Boston Post Road which is to be
repaved by NYS starting 2026.
Currently, the project only includes Village of Larchmont,from Beech to Aldeen. Chris Hann, Engineer in
charge says we need to take it to our MPO(Metropolitan Planning Organization) to push for more.
George Latimer is one of the voting members of our region's division.
Mike is getting support from stakeholders-- VoM Traffic Committee, and schools all doing bike rallies in
2024, bike busses are being promoted led by parents(mostly for K—2°d). Mike has created a website to
find out more information on his work and to perhaps get involved: www.lmbikelanes.com.
Mike was also informed that Murray Avenue is scheduled for major work by the County during the Spring
of 2024.
OCRA students,Sofia, Hannah,Addy and Hayley, Update on the VoL Restaurant Food Scrap Pilot
This is their update from their presentation to the Collab nine months ago before project began. Project
took place during a six-month period. Restaurants are all within a parking lot in Larchmont. There were
nine restaurants, but the three that were most interested were Bongo Bowls, Tequila Sunrise and
Alondra's.
Curbside Composting picks up once per week, three 64-gallon barrels for$180/month.
Funded by eco-investors$1,500.
Changed to two stops per week for$235/month
1,400 lbs food scraps recovered, avoiding 854 lbs. of waste
There are presently three restaurants that are participating in their pilot: Bongo Bowls, Tequila Sunrise&
Alondras. Their Presentation as a PDF is attached for those who were not able to attend.
Bongo Bowls not recycling as much food scraps as others because of staff changes, lack of
communication—tackling this w/better signage, trying to meet with all staff members
Goals long term, make composting more accessible to commercial institutions, expand to other
restaurants, opt in commercial composting in the restaurants(run by the government)and apply for
student-led and government grants.
Suggestion was made by Collab members that restaurant workers could be incentivized by OCRA offering
gift cards to shift or restaurant that does the most food scrap recycling.
Circuit Shuttle Possibilities
Arlene contacted Elizabeth Sun to see if we could get any points if we get a Circuit Shuttle. New Rochelle
got 5 CRC points. Comments were primarily that since we do not have a downtown, it's a difficult ask, but
the discussion also raised a tri-municipal route to the Village downtowns and train stations. Additional
questions were raised, but no answers were available at the meeting, as to whether or not the senior
citizen buses can be used for other purposes within the Town;railroad station, etc.
Trees(Arlene)
Grant for$55,000 to plant as many trees as that will allow—hopefully close to 100 trees. Should we have
a Tree Walk this year? Should we have a Heritage Tree List? Arlene will look into a spring tree walk.
Arlene feels there are problems re:permitting because if the tree is cut on a weekend, how does one
know if there was a permit issued for it?Robin mentioned that she has raised this issue,says there
should be a system where you can look this up. She said the response was that this is a valid concern.
Mark K.feels there should be a posting,some type of notification.
EnergySmart Homes(ESH)
Sue mentioned she will be submitting the first five residences to install heat pump/geothermal or other
ESH items so that the Town will get Clean Energy Community points. Nicholas commented that the
program more than met their goals for the campaign.
Update: Though many residents have applied/received permits, as of 3/1/2024, only four have
completed installation, so we need to wait for one more install before submitting.
EV Chargers—the grant the Town has applied for only applies to public property so there is still a place
for the Collabs to works with the Town re:putting EV chargers on private property in multi-unit dwellings
in the Town.
Solar Panels—where can they be installed? Is it only Town Center or are there other areas?
Updates: Mark, Mitch,Jaine & Meredith met on February 16 and discussed the next steps for EV
Chargers and Solar Panels in the Town. An update will be presented to the Collab at our March 5th
meeting.
Compost Giveaway Day—Mark K would like Compost Giveaway Day on Saturday April 13th.
Update: Compost Giveaway Day on Saturday April 13th at Maxwell Avenue Recycling Facility has been
approved by Meredith Robson. LEC volunteers will join the collab volunteers. Currently, Mark K is
organizing a committee and a leader will then be chosen. If you wish to volunteer, please email Mark K.
Fields for Kids—Mamk School District owns the field next to TC. The School Board will make all the
decisions with regard to the Field. Members from LEC, CFTE and the Collab listen to a Zoom presentation
by Fields for Kids and their Consultant on how they go about proposing an update to a field. At this time,
the specifics of the changes were not discussed, but the currently thinking calls for an artificial turf field,
all current tree removed to be replaced by shrubs and plants, no shade trees, installation of a
grandstand. At this time no further action is contemplated until specifics are made proposed and made
public to the Board of Education.
Volunteers Needed—Mark mentioned that we need volunteers for many different initiatives. He asked
how everyone at meeting got involved? Various members/volunteers mentioned what got them
involved,from former Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson (who started the Sustainability Collaborative)
talking with resident Frank Owen, to neighbors talking to neighbors about what the Collab was doing
(this led Arlene here). Harriet suggested that issues are what brings volunteers in.
Residents-Town Tree Grant
Update: Liz has checked with Millennium Strategies (our grant writer) and they said the grant awards
have not been announced yet.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm